Lubricating-hub.



. B. F. FOWLER. I

I LUBBIGAI'ING HUB. APPLICATION FILED JAN.18;--1912.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

5 INVENTOR Bevtiamm F. Fowlc-tv UNITED STATES PATENT ouu ou.

BENJAMIN FOWLER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0JAMES ASPDEN, OF EXCELSIOR, MINNESOTA.

LUBRICATING-HUB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent ed Nov. 5,1912.

- Application filed January 18, 1912. Serial No. 671,916.

To (I-l/ 'llflt-O'IIL it may concern Be it known that l. BENJAMIN F.Fow- LXCR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis. inthe county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain newand useful lmprovementsin Lubricating-Hubs, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to lubricating hubs,

production of a simple and efi'icient automatic valve means which may beeaslly and readily attached to the hub of a trolley wheel.

With thcse and other objects in view this invention consists of certainnovel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is an end elevation of the trolley wheelshowing the same connected to the harp, the trolley wheel being partlyshown in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the hub of thetrolley wheel showing the valve in a closed position. Fig. 3 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 showing the valve in an open position. Fi 4 is alongitudinal section through the trdl ley wheel. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective of one end of the journal pin. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective of the raising lug for the .valve. Fig. 7 is a rearelevation of the spring for supportin the valve upon the hub. Fig. 8 isa modil ied form of the invention wherein the oil control cup is carriedby the harp or other stationary journal. Fig. 9 is a section of amodified form of the lubricating device wherein the socket is carried bythe journal insteadof the pin.

Referrinito the accompanying drawings by numera which has a. similarconstruction to the wheel as disclosed in m application filed October 7,1911, Serial L0. 653 67, relating to self-lubricating hubs. The uh Bispro- 1; designates the trolley wheel vided-with an inlet aperture 4 inwhich works the depending pin 5 which is carried by the spring 6 of thevalve. The spring- 6 has its inner end connected to the hub 3 by meansof a screw 7, the spring 6 being bowed to fit snugly against the sidesof the hub 3, while the valve is in a closed position. A washer 8 iscarried by the free end of the spring 6,,and this washer is held inplace through the medium of the rivet 9 and depending pin 5. Of course,it should be understood that the inlet aperture 4 is of slightly greaterdimensions than the pin 5 so-that the oil may pass from the receptacle10 through this aperture on to the journal pin 11. Thisjournal pin' 11is provided with a circumferential groove 19 which groove is adapted tofit directly below the pin 5 so thatsaid pin may travel within thegroove.

A raising lug 13 is carried by the journal pin 11, and spans the groove12 formed in the pin 11. j The lug 13 is provided with a pair of squaredends 14. through which screws 15 pass, for securing the lug 13 to thepin 11. The central portion 16 of the n lug 1.3 is rounded asillustrated in Figs. 9, 3 and 6 so as to allow the rounded end of thepin to readily pass thereover. As the trolley' wheel 1 rotates, thejournal pin ltbeing stationary, it will be obvious that the pin 5 willbe raised as the same passes over the 111 13, thereby allowing theliquid to pass through the aperture 4, and on to the j our na-l pin 11.Of course, the lubricant will pass into the groove 12, but will easilywork, laterally upon the pin. The hub 3 is provided with a pocket 17 inwhich is adapted to fit the washer 8 when the valve is in a' closedposition. It will, therefore, be obvious that through the medium of theside walls 18, the spring 6 will-be held against lateral swing.

The journal pin 11 is provided upon one wheel 1 by removing the screw 21which is threaded into an aperture 22; I From the foregoing descriptionit will be obvious that a very efficient and durable valve device hasbeen produced which is absolutely automatic in its operation and owingto the shielded condition thereof, will not be likely to readily get outof order.

Z-In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 8, the oil cup 23 has itsdepending threaded end 24 threaded into the aperture 25 formed upon theboxing 26. Of course, the pin 11 is preferably used and, like the pin11, is provided with a circumferential groove 12 carryin a raising lug13 as illustrated in Fig. helieup 23 is provided with a lubricantcontaining receptacle 27 which has a drain opening 28 communicating;with the shaft 11 and plunger rod 29 is carried within the aperture. 28whichis formed of larger dimensions than thehead 29. A ball 30 isthreaded upon the stem or rod 29 as illustrated and may beadjusted' tocontrol the flowof lubricant from the receptable 27. A top 31. iscarried by the receptacle 27, and the plunger 29 works in the top asillustrated. A knob 32 is carried by the upper end of the rod 29 forlimiting the downward movement of the plunger 29, and also allowing theball to be threaded thereon. A coil spring 33 is interposed between thetop 31 and ball 30 for normally holding the rod 29 in engagement withthe shaft 11. Of course, it will be understood that as the raising pin13 comes in contact with the lower end of the plunger 29 the ball 30will be raised from its seat thereby allowing the lubricant to flowfrogn the cup 29.

Of course, it should be understood that the construction illustrated inthe drawings and especially that as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 may beused for a journalof any desired type, and is not restricted to usemerely in connection with the trolley poles.

.What is claimed is 2- 1. A lubricating device of the class describedcomprising a hub, a journal pin having a circumferential grooveintermediate its ends, a valve stem normally extending into said hub andin the path of movement of said journal pin, said pin being providedwith a tapering inclined notch formed at one end for facilitating theplacing of said pin within said hub, said pin also being provided with ataper-mg inclined notch adjacent said circumferential groove forfacilitating the withdrawing of said pin from said hub whereby saidvalve stem will be raised out of the path of movement of'said journalpin, a reciprocating valve carried by said hub, and means positionedwithin said circumferential groove for raising and lowering said valve.

2. A lubricating device of the'class described comprising a journal pin,a hub. a valve member carried by said hub, an elevating lug carried bysaid journal pin, said journal pin being provided with 'acircumferential groove, said elevating lug spanning said groove andbeing provided with squared ends engaging said journal pin upon szudcu'cumferentml groove, means passing through said squared ends forholding the same in engagement with; said journal pin, said squared endsassisting in holding said elevating lug against independent rotationrelative to said'journal pin, and a'roundcd portion formed intermediatethe ends of said elevating lug and being adapted to operate said valvemember for allowing the flow nal pin.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

BENJAMINF. FOWLER.

Witnesses: A. C. MInDnLs'rAp'r, H. J. Norman.

of lubricant to said jour-

